The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-03-17

the call on which so much depended.
A few minutes and it was too late, and
Mike was in a new dilemma.
Mike closed the key in despair. She
| did not know the train signals, but selz-
ed the red flag under the old desk and
ran for dear life-literally the dear lives
of her fellow creatures. Not until she
got to the wrecked place did she remem-
Der that she must go beyond the curve
to stop them or she would be of no use.
Already Sue heard the approaching train
rumble in the distance. Faster, faster
she sped round the curve straight on up
the track She could see them now COM
ing n. On they rushed, the great en-
CINE bent on destroying its precious
freight. Mike stopped in the midst of
the track and frantically swung her red
flag, but still the monster rushed toward
her, showing no abatement of speed.
Meanwhile the engineer and fireman
had seen the slight form OF the girl and
the fireman stood aghast to see the en-
gineer so utterly regardless of her.
stop, manr' he shouted; "don't you
see the girll'
yes" said the half drunk engineer.
why don't the little fool get ont OF
my way9 I'll teach her," and made no
movement to stop
Nike waited with a sinking heart-O,
why did every thing go against her?
Was it the will of God that this dreadful
thing must happen? The engine WAS
close upon her and she ran upon Jut-
ting rock by the railroad still waving her
scarlet fag-but Just as the engine came
alongside of her she heard the. sharp
Ill -, 10 vi
saw the fireman push the engineer aside to
reverse the engine. The conductor, who
had Just seen her and excitedly pulled
the bell-rope, jumped off and came to-
ward her. But the reaction was too
much for poor Mike, and she could only
gasp out: Ground the curve" and then
she wac white heap, with no sense OF
any thing,
Passengers rushed out, and, after some
| had been to the curve and seen what the
little girl had saved them from, no lady
in the land could be so loyalty walled
upon as she was when she had been lift
ed into the car and modestly told her
little story. It was some little time be
fore the track was ready for the train to
proceed, and when Mike got ont at her
own station many kind hands pressed
hers in farewell, aud the conductor left
tomethlng in her hand, too, just as the
train left, saying: ''You are the bravest
little woman in the State.
Not until she had been III the Office o
half hour with her father, who had got
home from his law suit aud wondered
what made the train late and where Mike
had gone 10, ana tCId him all the story
did Nike think to look at the packet.
''rhen she read note: "Will Miss
! Eunice Markham accept the accompany
ing from the friends she so bravery saved
! AUGUST %, 1882"
| The note was wrapped around five
| hundred dollars in bank notes.
| 20, papa! now you can pay off the
! mortgage on the house" cried Mike,
aud tue father said:
II declare, Nick, you get higher wages
as agent than | do"
Tue superintendent Of the .. d Il.
/ Railroad Company came down to Park
erstOwn that week, and soon after there
was a vacancy in one Of the best offices
| of the company in a neighborinG city
and Mr.. Markham was rendered the sit
uation. He accepted, $50 Nike can
| have the schooling she wants so much, J"
he said; and to-day Miss Eunica Mark
ham is one of the most promising pupils
in the high school of that city. But
more than ever is. she the pride of .ler
fathers heart, who never tires of telling
of the afternoon CHS girl was station
agent"
But, after all, you would never take
her for a heroine.